kelma كلمة
Moroccan Darija · noun
“kelma” (كلمة) is a noun in Moroccan Darija meaning word.
Meanings
- word
- one's word, promise given
- say, opinion
Usage
Feminine noun, plural kelmat or klam depending on the sense. In its literal sense it means a word of the language. Very often it also means a promise given: kelma dyal rjal, “a man's word”, i.e. a commitment one keeps. 3endi kelma means “I have a say” or “I keep my word”. Kelmat flan means “someone's opinion”: sme3 kelmt bak, “listen to what your father says”. In the construct state it is pronounced kelmt. The word appears in many expressions of politeness and honour.
Example
ما فهمتش هاد الكلمة
ma fhemtch had lkelma
“I didn't understand this word.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “kelma” but also “klma”, “kalma” and “kilma”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.
Type “kelma” on the Arabic keyboard
In Tunisian Derja
Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Tunisian Derja, where it means “word”; “one's word, promise”: kelma in Tunisian.